Cleft Lip

Conveniently located to serve New York City, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island

Dr. James P Bradley has years of experience performing cleft lip repair for New York patients. For many families, a cleft lip may seem like a rare and troublesome problem, but it is one of the most common problems that Dr. Bradley treats. He will personally work with you to make sure that you have an experienced plastic surgeon guide you through each step of the process. Many of his patients are newborns that receive initial care at the hospital. But he also works with patients that had their care elsewhere. Once treated by Dr. Bradley, most patients prefer to stay under his care throughout childhood until adulthood.

Cleft Lip Repair Objectives

  • To correct asymmetries of the lip and nose with minimal scarring.
  • To provide the best functional, dynamic result so that smiling, talking, and laughing appear more natural.
  • To optimize the result of each reconstructive procedure in order to minimize the total number of procedures.

The Cleft Lip Recovery and Healing Process

Once the procedure has been performed, your child will stay in the hospital overnight before going home the following day. Pain-relief medication and antibiotics will need to be taken during the recovery process. It will be necessary to care for the repair diligently as it heals.

You will need to bring your child in for a follow-up appointment around one week after the procedure has been performed. During this follow-up, Dr. Bradley will check on the healing process to ensure that it is going as expected. Sutures will be removed. If the sutures are dissolvable, removal will not be necessary.

State-of-the-Art Techniques

Presurgical preparation with NAM (nasoalveolar molding) is often recommended to reduce tension on the repair.

Millard-type, cutting modified rotation advancement cleft lip repair is performed with special attention to correcting nasal form.

Patient Success Story

“When my son was born with a cleft lip and palate, we were shocked. We visited several teams to try and find the best place for him. I felt like we were floundering and then we found Dr. Bradley. He has been a godsend. I love the personalized care. The other institutions made us feel like a number. Dr. Bradley treats us like we are a part of his family. I’ve talked with other families that have gone to him for years. Some of them travel from the opposite coast because they want the best care. I know my son will need several more surgeries as he gets older. It won’t be easy but I feel like Dr. Bradley will help us get through all of them.”

FAQ

What will my child look like after your cleft lip repair?

Your child will still look like their beautiful self, but will have a more balanced and natural appearance after cleft lip repair.

How many surgeries will my child need?

The number of surgeries depends in part by the type and severity of cleft lip. Dr. Bradley attempts, with his techniques, to minimize the number of procedures while maximizing the outcome. He will discuss specifics during your consultation. Some children need a cleft lip repair at 3 months, cleft palate repair at 10 months, secondary cleft rhinoplasty at 6 years, alveolar bone graft at 8 years, cleft jaw surgery at 16 years, and cleft septorhinoplasty at age 17 as the final procedure.

Your Cleft Lip procedure will be performed in James P Bradley, MD's surgery center located in New York.
Read Our Patient Stories

TESTIMONIALS

“The results of my procedure exceeded my expectations. I was very pleased with the outcome. Dr. Bradley is extremely skilled and professional. I recommend him to all of my family and friends.

K Osborne

“Dr. Bradley and his whole staff (Lia, Sabrina, Nicole) all fabulous! My questions and concerns were noted and answered. I was cared for and looked after. A wonderful practice.

K Osborne

“Dr. Bradley and his team maintained professionalism and diligence, from initial consultation through surgery and aftercare. Dr. Bradley paid close attention to my specific issue. His experience, confidence and talent are unmistakable. I would recommend him to anyone, as I know they would be an excellent hands.

Terrence F.